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Remember, most acne is not caused by surface
dirt or bacteria. Simply keeping your skin
clean isn't going to stop the biological
processes behind acne. Over-washing can
actually have the opposite effect. By
constantly sapping your skin of its
protective layer of oil, you can leave your
cells dry and cracked, more easily irritated and more
vulnerable to damage, including sun damage
that can lead to fine lines and wrinkles.
But isn't excess skin oil the problem? Why
not eliminate it by washing frequently?
Yes, excess skin oil is the culprit behind
most acne, but the key word here is
"excess". Constantly washing your
face is very different from using a
supplement like vitamin B5 to reduce oily
skin. When you use a treatment like Clear5,
you provide your body with the metabolic
fuel needed to eliminate excess skin oil,
but your body is smart - it regulates itself
- meaning that when it has eliminated the
excess and reached an optimal level of skin
oil, it stops, leaving a natural level of
oil to serve as a protective layer for your
skin. In other words: B5 allows your body
to function how it was meant to function.
In contrast, when you wash with a strong
cleanser, you are penetrating deep into your
pores and stripping your skin of *all* oil,
leaving you more susceptible to damage and
irritation. This is why most regimens force
you to follow with a moisturizer, but then
you're just adding on more chemicals that
can have their own negative effects. Why not
let your body protect itself the natural
way?
The exception to the twice-a-day rule
is if you did something to get yourself
dirty. If, during the day, you managed to
get yourself covered in mud or sweat or
corrosive acid, then by all means wash that
stuff off. Just don't go washing your face
for no good reason.
Simple and gentle is the best way to wash
To wash, you're going to need water, but
what temperature should it be? Keep in mind:
warm water causes your pores to dilate,
and cold water causes your pores to
contract. When washing, you should start
with warm water to open your pores and allow
your cleanser to penetrate, but it's often a
good idea to end with cool water so that
your pores tighten and are better protected
from damage, including particles from your
towel.
Note that I said warm, not hot. You
generally want to avoid hot water, as it can
dry out your skin and potentially cause more
harm than good.
When it comes to your cleanser, use a
gentle, good-quality face wash. It doesn't
have to be an "acne" cleanser, and often
you're better off if it's not. That said,
don't
just use any cheap bar of soap. Many soaps can
leave a filmy residue on your skin, and you
don't want that. Spend a little more and get
a decent cleanser, or better yet, consider
an
organic cleansing milk.
Lather well and massage the cleanser gently
into your skin (you don't need to scrub
hard). Allow the lather to stay on for at
least 30 seconds. Many
cleansers use chemical agents that work
almost like magnets to pull the gunk out of
your pores, but this seldom happens
immediately - you have to give it a little
time. Afterwards, rinse with cool water,
then gently pat your skin dry.
And that's it. I do not recommend
following with a moisturizer, toner or SPF
15 unless you're planning on spending
considerable time out in the sun. Many of
these products can end up clogging your
pores and contributing to acne, and if
you're
drinking
enough water,
the simple fact is you shouldn't need
them.
Smart
washing isn't just about your face. Read
about how to
wash
properly in the shower.
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